The house was extraordinarily quiet over the weekend. Even though Offspring the Second is ninja-like in his crepuscular movements, his presence was still tangible throughout the summer -- just as his absence now is. Best of luck, Offspring the Second. We are thinking of you, our bright young man, and miss you and your wit and your intelligent, thoughtful conversation already.
Offspring the Third, involved in his own preparations for back-to-school, also spent a fair amount of time out with his friends this weekend. He's a marvelous social butterfly. Herself is in awe -- she cannot even imagine the mental energy it takes to juggle such a large, divergent group of peers as friends. Yet he handles it with aplomb. Bravo.
Herself tried different tactics each day of the weekend to combat the sense of change that enveloped the household. On Saturday, she did not actively do much; she had her hair done, and made herself something interesting for lunch. She tackled a few chores that had waited until Offspring the Second moved his possessions: a little vacuuming, a little rearranging of a few things. And that was all for Saturday.
Yet the taking of the day off from significant activity seemed to increase, rather than decrease, the forlornness of the situation -- and so on Sunday, she threw herself into activity. She went to the store early. She cleaned out the fridge and contemplated this week's menus. She scrubbed all of the bathrooms, and replaced not only the shower curtains, but also the toilet seats. She organized multiple cabinets in the bathrooms and in the kitchen, discarding any expired items and rearranging things to be more practical. She handled multiple loads of laundry. She cleaned a questionable spot on the carpet and vacuumed everything.
Activity didn't dispel the heartache, either, though: for as soon as she stopped working, it was there, waiting.
Alas.
This morning, Offspring the Third was up an hour and forty minutes before they needed to leave the house ("just practicing getting up early" -- probably wise, given that he will need to be at school at the crack of dawn for band practice, beginning tomorrow). Off he went, surprisingly full of excitement for the year to come. Good for him.
And thus, the new routine begins.
Change is hard.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ― Lao Tzu
I'm trying.
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Change is indeed hard - and I find it more difficult with age, and when I am physically located in places from my past, it is almost impossible. Hang in there...
ReplyDeleteYes. I understand. <3 Thank you. Sending strength and courage to you as you face your own changes.
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